Paper handling equipment for cash reg-
isters, calculating and like machines



Aprll 12, 1966 A. MADEL 3,245,633

PAPER HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR CASH REGISTERS, CALCULATING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Nov. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ANDREAS MADEL ms ATTORNEYS L 3,245,633 FOR H REGISTERS, CALCULATING IKE MACHINES April 12, 1966 A. MA

PAPER HANDLING EQUIPMENT AND 1.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1963 INVENTOR ANDREAS MADEL HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent PAPER HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR CASH REG- ISTERS, CALCULATING AND LIKE MACHINES Andreas Made], Augsburg, Germany, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Maryland Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,722 9 Claims. (Cl. 24275.4)

This invention relates generally to improvements in the mechanism employed for supporting a paper supply of the roll type as used in numerous business machines. More particularly, the invention relates to such a paper supporting mechanism designed especially to facilitate quick and easy supply roll insertion within and empty core removal from such a machine, being done with automatic core member ejection when once the supply roll becomes exhausted of further paper and presenting no obstructions to the insertion of a new paper supply roll into the machine thereafter.

As is known to those versed in the art, it is customary to provide some sort of tension plate or like member to continually present a drag on the machine carried paper supply roll, the reason for which is to insure that each pay-out of paper from the supply roll does not exceed thethen need and use thereof within the particular recording mechanism included in the construction of the business machine itself. As is also known to those versed in the art, this paper tensioning or like drag member, due to its urgence toward engagement with the paper roll at all times, is normally in the way both to removal of the core member when once the paper thereon becomes used up and to the insertion of a fresh roll of paper when once the 01d core member has been removed; hence requiring such tension plate and the like to be manually held out of the way throughout the period of time needed for replenishing the business machine of its paper supply.

The primary object of the instant invention is to overcome the above difliculty in core removal and supply roll insertion by providing a paper tensioning member which is maintained in an out-of-the-way position when once moved thereto upon exhaustion of the machine carried paper supply, and which becomes automatically released from such position, so as to perform its designated dragging function, when once a new roll of paper is presented to the machine.

A further important object of the instant invention resides in the means provided for'maintaining and automatically releasing the above-mentioned paper tensioning member at and from its out-of-the-way position, which means, in addition, automatically ejects the paper roll supporting core when once same is.considered empty and such tensioning member is therefore caused to be moved to its out-of-the-way position.

With these and incidental objects in view, the instant invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

'Of said drawings:

- FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a machine of that type which might embody the present invention, being specifically a cash register in this instance;

FIG. 2 is a View in left side elevation of the present invention as incorporated in the machine of FIG. 1, showing the various elements thereof as positioned in an outof-the-way and core ejecting position;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along line 33 in FIG. 2; and g FIG. 4 is a view in left side elevation of the present "ice invention as illustrated in FIG. 2, but showing same as positioned with respect to an associated paper supply roll.

As shown in FIG. 1, the machine chosen to disclose the present invention is housed in a suitable cabinet 10 and, although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the framework of such machine includes a base member supporting an upstanding left side frame 11 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). It is on the outer side of such left side frame 11 that a supply roll of receipt paper 12 is carried (FIG. 4), at a zone within the confines of the machine cabinet 10 and spaced at distance rearwardly of a receipt issuing slot 14 provided within the keyboard section of such cabinet 10 (FIG. 1).

As understood from FIG. 4, the paper supply roll 12 includes a core member 13 having an internal diameter which engages slidingly over a support stud 15 extending outwardly from the side frame 11 (see also FIGS. 2 and 3). While the instant illustration of such support stud .15 defines a hollow member appropriately capped or plugged at its outermost end, it is clear that such stud 15 can just as well be of a solid nature.

Provided between thev paper roll 12 and themachine framework left side frame 11 is a stepped hub 16, being supported for sliding movement along the stud 15 and being normally urged outwardly therealong by means of a spring 17 extending between same and said side frame 11 (FIG. 3). The steps of such hub 16 are each facing outwardlythat is, directed toward the free end of the support stud 15, and are precisely designated in FIGS. 2 and 3 as front step 16a and rear step 16b, of a minor and major diameter, respectively. Although not illustrated herein, the forwardmost edge of such hub 16, lying between the front step 16a thereof and the support stud 15 itself, will be engaged by the core member 13 whenever a paper roll 12 is present within the machine.

Operably associated with the several steps 16a and 16b of such hub 16 is a control arm portion 18a of a paper tension plate 18, which plate 18 is supported rockably at a fixed position with respect to the paper roll support stud 15 by means of a further side frame stud 19.' A spring 20, stretched between such tension plate 18 and still a further side frame stud 21, yieldingly urges the paper tension plate 18 clockwise and toward the paper roll support stud 15 (FIGS. 2 and 4) until either a paper brake portion 22 thereof comes into engagement with the periphery of a paper roll 12 (as so illustrated in FIG.

4) or, in the absence of such a paper roll 12, the control arm portion 18a thereof abuts against the rear step 16b of the support stud 15 carried hub member 16 (as so illustrated in FIG. 2).

As described previously, the spring 17 yieldingly urges the stepped hub 16 away from the side frame 11. With the just-described paper tension plate 18 associated therewith, it is seen (FIGS. 2 and 3) that a major diameter surface of such hub 16 (that area between its outer periphery and the rear step 16b thereof) will thus be spring-urged into contact with the control arm portion 18:: of the paper tension plate 18 whenever a paper roll 12 is not provided on the support stud 15, That is, the outer movement of such stepped hub 16 along the stud 15 is limited to the positioning of the tension plate control arm portion 18a whenever a paper roll 12 is absent from the machine. While not being precisely illustrated herein, at no time can such stepped hub 16 travel beyond the tension plate control arm portion 18a since the justmentioned major diameter surface thereof is of that width not permitted to pass by the control arm portion 18a, even though the paper tension plate 18 is manually rocked from the illustrated position thereof in FIG. 2, counter-clockwise and into engagement with the inner side of the machine cabinet 10. The permitted rocking of such paper tension plate 18 in a direction away from the support stud 15 is thus defined by the machine cabinet 10, which is less than that required for removing the control arm portion 18a of such plate 18 from behind the major diameter surface of the stepped hub 16. Hence, without a paper roll 12 in the machine, the paper tension plate 18 will always assume that position illustrated in FIG. 2, in turn maintaining the stepped hub 16 in that position illustrated in FIG. 3. As understood from FIG. 2, no part of the paper tension plate 18 extends within the paper roll receiving area around the support stud 15 that is, needs to be moved out of the way as a paper roll 12 is inserted into the machine.

Upon sliding a paper roll 12 along such support stud 15, engagement of the core member 13 thereof with the forwardmost edge of the stepped hub 16 (between the front step 16a and the periphery of stud 15) will cause the stepped hub 16 to move inwardly and toward the side frame 11 as the spring 17 is overcome; in turn permitting, just as soon as the rear step 16b of such hub 16 roll 12 (FIG. 4). At this time, the tension plate control arm portion 18a lies ahead of the hub rear step 16b and actually is in alignment with the hub front step 16a, which permits the paper tension plate 18 to be spring- -urged immediately to that position corresponding with the diameter of the inserted paper roll 12. This paper roll engaging position of such tension plate 18 of course is had automatically just as soon as the hub. rear step 16!) is removed from alignment with the control arm portion 180, and such paper roll engaging position of the tension plate 18 will remain as long as any supply of paper is left on the core member 13. As can be understood from FIG. 4, the configuration of the tension plate control arm portion 18a is such that no part thereof will ever come into contact with the hub front step 16a until the supply of paper is completely exhausted from the core member 13, hence enabling the paper brake member or portion 22 to be continually effective for its intended purpose as the paper roll 12 diminishes in diameter during machine use. While thisis so, it is further understood from FIG. 4 that the configuration of the tension plate control arm portion 18a is such that normal urgence by the spring 17 at this time will present a minor diameter surface of the hub 16 (that area between its rear step 16b and front step 16a) in contacting engagement therewith. This, it is clear, relieves the paper roll 12 from I the outwardly urging tension of the spring 17 during machine use.

Maintenance of the paper roll 12 on the support stud 15 during machine use is by means of a retaining arm portion 18b of the paper tension plate 18 moving in front of an edge zone of the paper roll 12 outer side surface (FIG. 4). retaining arm portion 18b of the tension plate 18 is spaced a distance forwardly of the control arm portion 18a thereof, and extends along the outer side of the paper roll 12 rather than, as does the arm portion 18a, along the inner side thereof. The spacing apart of such arm portions 18a and 18b is slightly greater than the width of the paper roll 12 so that, when once the stepped hub 16 is moved inwardly thereby, such paper roll 12 will both be engaged by the paper brake 22 and be maintained between the several arm portions 18a and 1811.

When once the supply of paper on any core member 13 becomes exhausted during machine use, it is clear that the machine operator must first remove such empty core member 13 from the support stud 15 and thence slide a new paper roll 12 onto such stud 15. At the time of paper exhaustion, the tension plate control arm portion 18a still engages the hub minor diameter surface, hence maintaining the spring 17 in its previously tensioned state, and removal of the empty core member 13 from the stud 15 As best understood from FIG. 3, such is then prevented by the tension plate retaining arm portion 18b. Hence, the first step performed by the machine operator is to rock the paper tension plate 18 away from the support stud 15, such as through grasping an operating hand-1e portion thereof and rocking same counterclockwise about the stud 19. When such rocking movement of the tension plate 18 proceeds to that extent where the control arm portion 18a thereof leaves its engagement withthe hub minor diameter surfacethat is, reaches the zone of the rear step 16b of the hub member 16, spring 17 becomes immediately active for shifting such hub 16 outwardly that distance permitted until the major diameter surface thereof comes into engagement with the tension plate control arm portion 18a, which actually is when such control arm portion lsa becomes realigned with the hub rear step 16b. .T his spring urged movement of the hub 16 from step 16a alignment to step 16b alignment with respect to such control :arm portion 18a is exceptionally fast in view of the prescribed weight of the spring 17, and is effective for shifting or popping the empty core member 13 at least partway off of the support stud 15. As mentioned above, it is at this time that the rear step 16b of the hub member 16 prevents the paper tension plate 18 from moving back toward the support stud 15, and will continue to do so until a new roll of paper 12 is applied to such stud and shifted inwardly therealong to what may be called its operating position. As is known, when reaching this operating position the core member '13 overcomes the normal tension of the spring 17 and removes the rear step 16b of the hub member 16 from the alignment with the paper tension plate control arm portion 18a, whereupon the spring 20 becomes immediately effective for rocking the tension plate 18 until the paper brake member 22 thereof engages and the retaining arm portion 18b thereof falls in front of the newly applied roll of paper 12.

While the present disclosure is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects above stated, it is clear that structural changes might easily be employed without departing from the spirit of the instant invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that it is not intended to "confinesuch invention to that one form precisely disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms, all coming within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a member for supporting rotatably a supply roll of paper as used in business machines and the like; a hub member mounted slidingly on said supporting member; a first step on said hub member; a second step on said hub member; a paper. tension plate mounted for movement toward and away from said supporting memher; said tension plate having a control arm portion when aligned with said hub member first step maintaining the tension plate away from said supporting. member and when aligned with said hu=b member second step permitting the tension plate to move toward said supporting member; means normally urging said hub member in a forward direction along said supporting member where the first step thereof is aligned with said tension plate control arm portion; and said hub member being shifted by a paper roll when mounted on said supporting member rearwardly to a position where said second step thereof becomes aligned with said tension plate control arm portion.

2.. The combination of claim 1 including means yieldingly urging the paper tension plate toward said supporting member, whereby said paper tension plate moves automatically toward said supporting member immediately upon a paper roll being mounted thereon.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said paper tension plate includes a paper-feed brake portion; said control arm portion when aligned with the hub member first step positions said brake portion 'out-of-the-way to paper roll mounting on said supporting member; said control arm portion when aligned with the hub member second step permits said brake portion to engage the periphery of a paper roll then mounted on said supporting member; and spring means is provided for urging said paper tension plate toward said supporting member, whereby automatic movement of said brake portion from its paper roll out-of-the-way position to its paper roll engaging position is had immediately upon the mounting of a paper roll on said supporting member.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a hub member rear surface portion adjacent said first step; said rear surface portion contacting said paper tension plate control arm portion for limiting forward movement of the hub member along said supporting member in the absence of a paper roll thereon; a hub member front surface portion adjacent said second step; and said hub member rear surface portion being shifted rearwardly and from contacting engagement with said control arm portion by a paper roll when mounted on said supporting member, whereafter said hub member front surface portion contacts said paper tension plate control arm portion for limiting forward movement of the hub member along said supporting member with a paper roll mounted thereon.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which the shifting of said hub member rear surface portion from contacting engagement with said paper tension plate control arm portion is through a paper roll central core member overcoming the hub member urging means during paper roll mounting; said hub member front surface portion in then contacting said paper tension plate control arm portion maintains said urging means as so overcome; and said paper tension plate includes means for manually removing the control arm portion thereof from contacting engagement with said hub member front surface portion upon exhaustion of paper from the core member, whereupon said hub member urging means is released for returning immediately the hub member rear surface portion forwardly and into contacting engagement with said paper tension plate rear surface portion; said core member being thereby ejected at least part way off of said supporting member.

6. In combination with a fixed member for supporting rotat-ably a supply roll of paper as used in business machines and the like, a paper roll ejection member mounted slidingly on said fixed member; a paper tension plate mounted for movement toward and away from said fixed member; said tension plate having a retaining arm portion adapted to engage the outer side edge of a paper roll supported by said fixed member; said tension plate having a control arm portion when engaged with said ejection member maintaining the said retaining arm portion free and clear from paper roll engagement and in a non-obstructing position with respect to paper roll mounting on said fixed member; and means yieldingly urging said ejection member outwardly along said fixed member and into an engaging position with respect to said control arm portion in the absence of a paper roll on said fixed member; and said ejection member being moved inwardly along said fixed member and out of the control arm portion engaging position by -a paper roll when mounted on the fixed member, whereby the tension plate retaining arm portion is free to engage such roll and thereby maintain same on the fixed member against the normal outward thrust thereagainst through said yielding means urgence of said ejection member.

7. The structure of claim 6 including spring means for urging said paper tension plate toward said fixed member, whereby said retaining arm portion moves automatically from its paper roll non-obstructing position to its paper roll maintaining position immediately upon said ejection member being moved from its control arm portion engaging position.

8. The structure of claim 6 in which said paper tension plate includes paper-feed brake means adapted to engage the periphery of a paper roll when mounted on said fixed member; said ejection member has outwardly facing major and minor step portions; said tension plate control arm portion is aligned with the major step portion of said ejection member in the absence of a paper roll on said fixed member, whereby movement of said tension plate toward said fixed member is defined by engagement of said control arm portion with said major step portion; and said ejection member, when moved from said control arm portion engaging position by a paper roll being mounted on said fixed member, aligns the minor step portion thereof with said control arm portion, whereafter movement of said tension plate toward said fixed member is defined by engagement of the tension plate brake means with the periphery of the paper roll.

9. The structure of claim 6 in which the supply roll of paper is wound upon a central core member; said core member engages and moves the ejection member from its control arm portion engaging position during paper roll mounting on the fixed member; and said paper tension plate includes a handle portion permitting manual return of the retaining arm portion from its paper roll maintaining position back to its paper roll non-obstructing position, whereupon the paper roll core member is immediately removed at least part way off from said fixed member by said urging means in restoring said ejection member to its control arm portion engaging position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING ROTATABLY A SUPPLY ROLL OF PAPER AS USED IN BUSINESS MACHINES AND THE LIKE; A HUB MEMBER MOUNTED SLIDINGLY ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER; A FIRST STEP ON SAID HUB MEMBER; A SECOND STEP ON SAID HUB MEMBER; A PAPER TENSION PLATE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER; SAID TENSION PLATE HAVING A CONTROL ARM PORTION WHEN ALIGNED WITH SAID HUB MEMBER FIRST STEP MAINTAINING THE TENSION PLATE AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND WHEN ALIGNED WITH SAID HUB MEMBER SECOND STEP PERMITTING THE TENSION PLATE TO MOVE TOWARD SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER; MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID HUB MEMBER IN A FORWARD DIRECTION ALONG SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER WHERE THE FIRST STEP THEREOF IS ALIGNED WITH SAID TENSION PLATE CONTROL ARM PORTION; AND SAID HUB MEMBER BEING SHIFTED BY A PAPER ROLL WHEN MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER REARWARDLY TO A POSITION WHERE SAID SECOND STEP THEREOF BECOMES ALIGNED WITH SAID TENSION PLATE CONTROL ARM PORTION. 